Healthcare Brands International Announces the Acquisition of Antula Holdings AB

Healthcare Brands International (HBI) announces the completion of a major step towards its goal of building a new international Over-the-Counter (OTC) healthcare business with the acquisition of Antula Holdings AB, the privately-owned Scandinavian OTC healthcare business, and its subsidiaries.

HBI was launched in October 2006 and is led by Barry Clare, former Chief Executive of Boots Healthcare International. Its mission is to develop an international OTC healthcare business based on acquiring innovative products, with clinically-proven efficacy, that have the potential to be exploited in markets around the world.

Antula is the leading independent OTC healthcare company in the Scandinavian market. Successful pharmaceutical brands such as SB12, Zon, Lactal and Eeze have contributed strongly to Antula becoming the fastest growing OTC healthcare business in its local markets over recent years.

HBI is funded by an international syndicate of life science investors. The financing for this substantial acquisition was co-led by new investor Essex Woodlands, 3i and MVM, with all other existing investors Goldman Sachs, Sofinnova Partners and Abingworth also participating substantially in the transaction.

The acquisition of Antula is the third transaction announced to date by HBI. Since October 2006, HBI has acquired the Sambucol brand, an elderberry extract with clinically proven efficacy for the treatment of flu, and the rights to develop and market docosanol, the leading US cold sore treatment, in products for the treatment of cold sores in Europe.

Barry Clare, Chairman and CEO of HBI, believes that Antula is a highly complementary acquisition for HBI:

“Antula provides us with both a business in the Scandinavian markets that has the potential to continue its proven track record of growth and an important portfolio of successful brands, some of which we plan to develop into genuine international franchises.”